Chapter 385: The Birth of Evil (2)

Once the lair of Dragon Lord Neo, the center of the Seventh Evil is now a fairytale castle run by the terrifying Dark Bear.

Whoosh!

Cale’s group arrived at the Seventh Evil from the Kingdom of Lan through a teleportation, accompanied by a bright light.

“Huh—”
Cale gave an awkward smile.

"Has the number of people increased a bit?"
It was then—

Thud!
A hundred people dropped to their knees in unison.

The chilling part wasn’t just their number.
It was the speed.
The force.
As if one mind had moved a hundred bodies.

“Greetings to the Heavenly Demon!”
They were the members of the Demon Cult.

A huge castle where the final boss of the Seventh Evil resided.

The white castle, as beautiful as a fairytale castle, was surrounded by fluffy clouds like cotton candy, but it was quite large.

The Seventh Evil had the second largest field compared to the other Eight Evils, and this castle was worthy of its grandeur.

Naturally, the lobby of the first floor of the castle was also quite spacious.

"..."

Swoosh.
The Heavenly Demon lifted his hand.

Thud!
All one hundred cult members bowed even lower, their foreheads slamming into the floor in perfect unison.

“Demon!”

At their shouts, the Heavenly Demon simply stood, impassive.

"Ha, ha—"

Cale looked at the terrifying Dark Bear who was smiling awkwardly.

This adorable little bear was rubbing his hands excitedly, trying to get closer to Cale.

“Ha, ha, Young Master, long time no see.”

Behind the bear, Gashan, a Beast People of the tiger tribe, waved his hand.

“Hick!”

The bear flinched at the sound of Gashan’s voice behind him, and ran towards Cale with a sprint.

He glanced back.

Oh, God!

Gashan, with completely white eyes and various patterns engraved all over his body.

Two crows, emitting an unsettling caw, were flying around him.

Clutch.
The terrifying Dark Bear instinctively clutched the hem of Cale’s pants.

Gulp.

Cale Henituse, the Most Evil One.

He never thought he would be so happy to see him.

There are too many crazy people!

After Cale’s group left, one by one, they had been registering as NPCs or Semi-NPCs, starting with the Pope of Aipotu, a Dragon Half–Blood.

Of course, they were also working on creating the Black Castle portal, so the terrifying Dark Bear had encountered other groups of Cale on several occasions.

That’s why he realized.

These people are the most normal!

Cale, Choi Han, the terrifying baby dragon and the two ferocious cats.

They were the most normal.

Those guys from the Demon Cult who said they served the Heavenly Demon.

Crazy psychopaths!

They seem like a cult, the way they act saying they’ve found a new place to settle.

The others, like Gashan, the Beast People, were also strange.

And the Dragon Half–Blood were also strange!

Starting with the Pope, the Dragon Half–Blood were arriving one by one to this place saying they were going to create Miru Knights Order or something.

They were silent, which made them terrifying.

In fact, there were many others who were strange and terrifying.

...Of course, the strangest one is—

Gulp.

Dark Bear felt a chill down his spine.

"Long time no see."

"Eruhaben–nim."

A smile of relief appeared on Cale’s mouth, who was looking at the members of the Demon Cult with suspicion.

Pat, pat.

He unconsciously patted Dark Bear’s head as he greeted the Ancient Dragon Eruhaben.

"Are you busy with the portal?"

The Black Castle portal.

Eruhaben, the most skilled in magic after Sheritt—the former Lord who couldn’t leave the castle—had registered as a Semi-NPC and was now collaborating with the Earth 3 researchers to develop the portal.

In addition, he was helping to rebuild Aipotu, which had been devastated by the hunters of the Purple Blood Family and the dragon forces of Aipotu.

"More or less."

Eruhaben, who had replied indifferently, glanced at Dark Bear and said,

"Dark Bear. This kid is more capable than he appears. He has made things much easier for us by taking care of the small details."

Oh.

Cale looked at Dark Bear with admiration.

And Dark Bear couldn’t look at Eruhaben.

Hmm.

He couldn’t forget the reaction Eruhaben had shown after becoming a Semi-NPC.

‘Does that mean dragons can be hunted by players at any time?’

‘What? Th-That’s not possible yet, but—’

‘Could it be possible in the future?’

‘Yes, yes, yes… If you level up and meet certain conditions, then maybe—’

‘Hmm. That sounds fun. Very fun.’

Eruhaben’s eyes gleamed with a hint of madness as he chuckled.

‘Can dragons level up here too?’

‘What? Semi-NPCs can’t level up—’

‘Oh, really? Ha, ha, ha—’

Dark Bear could never forget that eerie, thunderous laughter.

From that day on, he had been avoiding Eruhaben… for reasons best left unspoken.

Pat, pat.

"Good job."

Instead, he was comforted by seeing Cale patting his head with a rough hand.

Yes. I am the great Dark Bear!

The only one I will serve is our great Most Evil One!

The leader of all these creatures!

The living embodiment of evil!

Our Cale Henituse!

Just as the corners of Dark Bear’s lips were about to curl into a proud grin—

"Is he going to be born soon?"

Eruhaben’s voice subtly shifted the atmosphere.

Cale gestured to the flower–embroidered cloth at his side.

“Yes. It seems he’ll be born within the next seven days.”

The hatching rate had started to increase very slowly from 95.2%.

[Hatching Rate 95.21% (Time Remaining: 6 Days 23 Hours 21 Minutes)]

[Birth Ceremony Progress 0%]

[Reward Class Undetermined]

In addition, it also showed the remaining time.

It needs to reach 100% birth ceremony progress before time runs out.

That would improve the reward class.

It seems this kid is the one who will receive the reward.

[The target’s reward will change depending on the completion percentage of the event. (From F to S Class)]

While Cale checked the mission description, Eruhaben asked him doubtfully.

"From what I've heard, well, that hatching requires certain conditions to be met."

Eruhaben had already noticed Cale’s way of working. Therefore, he had noticed something strange about what Cale had said.

"Why did you call Clopeh Sekka in such a hurry?"

Clopeh Sekka.

Glance.

Eruhaben’s gaze turned to the two people who hadn’t approached yet.

Clopeh Sekka and the former Pope Casillia were together.

Hmm.

The Ancient Dragon also felt a little uncomfortable seeing them together.

When did they become friends?

Clopeh Sekka.

That guy was standing next to Pope Casillia, with a joyful expression.

Of course, Pope Casillia’s eyes didn’t leave the Dragon Half–Blood Eden Miru.

"..."

However, she couldn’t approach.

Eruhaben, who seemed to understand her feelings, frowned slightly. In fact, he couldn’t easily approach Eden Miru either for some reason.

"Ah."

At that moment, the Ancient Dragon saw Cale smile.

"It’s good that they’re together."

What?

Cale greeted Clopeh Sekka and Pope Casillia.

"Hmm. It’s very comforting."

He looked at the two with satisfaction, then turned his gaze to the Heavenly Demon

Huh? What?

More precisely, he was looking at the children standing beside the Heavenly Demon.

A sense of unease came over Eruhaben at that meaningful look, and his eyes quickly shifted to Cale’s group.

“Hihi!”

“Hehe!”

"..."

The average ten–year–old children, Raon and Hong, were laughing, and On was smiling. They seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"..."

Rosalyn avoided the gaze, and Choi Han had a vacant expression.

"Haha."

And Crown Prince Alberu Crossman was smiling brightly, as if he couldn’t be prouder.

It’s very suspicious.

And the Heavenly Demon, who received Cale’s gaze—

"..."

He had an expression of great interest, but also distrust.

What’s going on?

Just as the Ancient Dragon was about to remember the last time Cale had caused trouble, Cale opened his mouth and revealed his true purpose.

"Within seven days, a great legend must be born."

His voice was serious.

“!”

Dark Bear flinched.

A legend?

“The new evil of the Seventh Evil… Its birth must be known not only to the Eight Evils—but to the entire continent.”

Huh?

Dark Bear loosened the strength of his front paws, which were grabbing Cale’s pants.

Swoosh.

The pant leg came off his front paw.

Dark Bear took a step back.

Didn’t they say Eden Miru would be born in seven days?

Dark Bear, the provisional final boss of the Seventh Evil, already knew.
Eden Miru might become the new boss.
But... a legend?

“Hmm.”
Clopeh Sekka exhaled softly, full of admiration.

“...”
Pope Casillia’s eyes widened.

A Dragon Half–Blood.
One who never fit in—rejected by every place and every people.

Eden Miru.
The Dragon Half–Blood who had stood against the former Dragon Lord Neo—
The very being she despised—
To protect them all.

Now he was set to take Neo’s place.
And she had decided, she would protect him.

This was her new life.
To make him a legend.
And to let the entire world know his name.

The birth of a Dragon Half–Blood—
Make him a legend?

The continent of Aipotu.

The former Pope Casillia, who had created a sect that worshipped Dragons as Gods on the continent of Aipotu and had managed to control the entire continent in two hundred years.

An intense passion began to shine in the former Pope’s eyes.

"Oh, Heavenly Demon, is that what we have to do?"

The Heavenly Demon replied with a smile to his subordinate’s question.

"Well, wouldn’t it be fun? I’m also planning to help."

The Central Plains.

The Demon Cult, which had maintained a long and tenacious history there.

The sect that worshipped the Heavenly Demon as a God.

Their madness often made even the most powerful warriors feel disgusted.

For them, a ceremony—
A ritual to forge something into legend—

"We have a lot of experience with this."

It was something they often did.

"..."

Thud.

Dark Bear took a step back.

Thud.

He flinched as something touched his back and quickly turned around.
It was the Ancient Dragon, Eruhaben.

Dark Bear, who had been about to slip away, instinctively clung to the hem of Eruhaben’s robe when he saw the dangerous excitement gleaming in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Pope Casillia spoke, her face devoid of expression.

“If we need to make it known to everyone, then I suggest we prepare a birth ceremony—invite the intermediate bosses of the Seventh Evil, open the castle, and let the inhabitants of the Seventh Evil witness it.”

Her voice was soft, but strangely full of enthusiasm.

“Also, we should inform the other final bosses of the Eight Evils about the birth ceremony. Summoning them might draw unwanted attention, so I believe a discreet notification would be better than a formal invitation.”

That’s why Dark Bear was afraid.

A member of the Heavenly Demon’s group also intervened.

"I think the ceremony should be grand and majestic. It’s not a simple birth, is it? It’s the birth of evil."

"I think it would be good if it also had a touch of holiness."

While Casillia and the members of the Demon Sect were talking.

"Cale–nim."

Someone spoke.

It was Clopeh Sekka, who had been standing silently, with a smile on his lips, except when he had first exclaimed.

He finally opened his mouth.

“This… This is the beginning of greatness!”

Everyone heard Raon’s words, which he muttered in a low voice, but they pretended not to hear them.

Step.

Clopeh Sekka stepped forward.

He stepped in front of Cale and gazed at Eden Miru’s egg, wrapped in the flower–embroidered cloth.

“Actually—”

His voice, carrying a sacred weight, echoed softly through the lobby.

“Legends don’t need grand announcements.”

“Legends are something you see, hear, feel against your skin—something you recognize with every breath.”

Cale Henituse.

The path of legend he walked wasn’t some meticulously crafted ceremony, nor a tale invented with grandeur in mind.

Clopeh Sekka knew that better than anyone.

After all, he was the one who had tried to fabricate a legend—meticulously planning everything to become one himself—only to finally grasp how the true legend did it.

“We just have to show it.”

A ceremony?

There’s no need for such things. We only need to show it.

“The evil that is about to be born here...”

Clopeh’s smile deepened.

“Just the signs of its birth will be enough to draw everyone in.”

And naturally, a story will form.

A legend will write itself.

Clopeh Sekka slowly raised his head and gazed at the ceiling.

The ceiling of the lobby, where fluffy clouds like cotton candy were floating.

"Ah—"

Clopeh watched as the fluffy cotton candy began to twist into something ominous… something sinister.

“I see the evil,” he whispered—

smiling with a radiant, almost childlike innocence.

"Clopeh Sekka."

Cale reached out and patted Clopeh on the shoulder.

He’s seriously dependable—crazy, but dependable.

"This time, do whatever you want."

If I leave it to this guy, the birth ceremony…

"I’ll help you with everything."

Yeah. The reward for this one is going to be at least S-class.

* * *

Wooong—

The castle where the boss of the Seventh Evil resided.
The so-called Cotton Candy Castle.

The creatures and inhabitants of the nearby village—those living under the shadow of the Seventh Evil—looked up at the Cotton Candy Castle with worried eyes.

Wooong—

The sky above the Cotton Candy Castle—rising tall at the heart of the vast plain—was weeping.

“What… What’s going on?”

Flash. Flash.

Blood–red lightning flashed between the clouds, showing its presence from time to time.

In addition—

“Those clouds…”

The sky was covered in blood–red clouds.

It’s sinister.

Really sinister.

Caw, caw–

Crows appeared from every direction, swarming toward the Cotton Candy Castle.

Caw, caw–

The sky turned pitch black with their wings, as if day itself were being swallowed.

“…It’s sinister.”

But the ones muttering those words didn’t look frightened.

After all, they were creatures born and raised in the land of the Seventh Evil.

They were living beings who existed in a world with their own stories, based on a fairytale.

“The trees! The trees!”

Someone shouted, not in fear—but in thrilled awe.

“The trees are growing like horrible monsters!”

The sky was weeping! Blood–red clouds were appearing!

Crows were flying from everywhere!

And the trees were growing horribly!

"Damn, now there’s also wind and rain!"

Wind and rain, all the ominous omens were heading towards the Cotton Candy Castle.

As if a great evil, which a fairytale hero had to defeat at the end, was being born.

Thump. Thump.

While the story of the Cotton Candy Castle spread rapidly throughout the Seventh Evil.

"Human, aren’t you exaggerating?"

"...Damn."

Cale was regretting it.

But his hand was still on the ground.

The strange trees were growing horribly; it was Cale who was making them grow as he had done in the past in the jungle with the help of the Indestructible Shield.

"Ugh."

The Heavenly Demon also let out a sigh and exhaled more blood–red energy.

"Miss Mary."

"Yes."

"It’s your turn to act."

The Necromancer Mary nodded, with a bone in her hand.

Clang.

The earth trembled, and it was time for the skeletons to come out.

All the ominous omens were heading towards the Cotton Candy Castle.

"It’s not enough."

Meanwhile, Clopeh Sekka felt something was missing.

His gaze turned to the Ancient Dragon Eruhaben, Rosalyn and Raon.

Clopeh Sekka, the mad knight who had once tried to turn legends into reality, spoke firmly,

“It’s not enough.”

Rosalyn thought, Clopeh Sekka’s eyes are gleaming with madness again…

"Evil must be more evil. Evil enough for the bosses of the Eight Evils to focus on it."

With a soft voice, Clopeh Sekka approached the three.

That night.

A pillar of black light rose from the Cotton Candy Castle.

And that light spread in all directions, making the line visible across the entire field of the Seventh Evil.

Caw, caw–

The crows followed that line, and the skeletons that were buried everywhere appeared, moving only towards the center of the Seven Evils, the vast cotton candy plain.

It was truly horrible.

And the news spread across the Eight Evils, stirring interest in the other nations that constantly kept their eyes on them.
Of course, Cale’s growing influence played a major role in capturing their attention.

Because he had sent magical images of that strange spectacle to Ahn Roh Man and Queen Tamahi of the Kingdom of Lan.

==============

<What’s happening in the Seventh Evil? :O>
– Have you seen that leaked video?
– It looks like some kind of in-game footage someone uploaded.
– Damn. What’s going on there?
– What video?
– I saved it. Check the link.
– Damn. What is this? It’s way too sinister.
– Wow. New World is wild. Everyone’s in chaos.
– Oh my god! …But who recorded a video of the Seventh Evil?
– I don’t know. Are there already players who can even access that area?
– Is this the birth of a Demon King?

==============

The birth of evil.
Preparations were already underway.

“Cale-nim, you can take it slow—manage your condition as you go.”

“…Yeah. Got it.”

And so, Cale began to unleash his ancient powers, one by one—
each one guided with Clopeh Sekka’s fanatical precision.

Wiggle, wiggle–

For some reason, Eden Miru seemed to have achieved enlightenment, and he was expressing his will without force.

* * *

And finally, the last helper appeared before Cale.

“…What? You’re planning a birth ceremony that will become a legend?”

The former Dragon Lord Sheritt.

A strange light gleamed in her eyes.

“Yes,” Cale replied, smiling.

Wiggle.

The egg stirred again—calmly, yet purposefully.

"Oh, Most Evil One!"

At that moment, Dark Bear approached Cale to give him some news.

"Count Lupe, the boss of the Third Evil, has said he will be available tomorrow and will come to visit!"

The Third Evil—another domain Cale had already brought under his rule.
Count Lupe, a figure believed to be a true noble of the Demon World, was now making his move.

That visit could only mean one thing…

“Oh, Most Evil One, didn’t you say Miss Aurora’s coming tomorrow too?”

"Yes, that’s right."

Aurora.

The leader of the group of Mediators and the only descendant of the former Demon King.

And the one who was looking for Count Lupe.

The two demons had decided to meet secretly in this place tomorrow.

There were four days left until the birth of Eden Miru, the birth of evil.

 -----

P/R Thought:

Dark Bear: ‘Cale’s group is the most normal ones here’… bro, that says EVERYTHING. 😂🐻

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]